Flesh shall have peace Jer. 47.6 7 ult O thou Sword of the Lord How long will it be ere thou be quiet Put up thy Self into thy Scabbard rest and be still How can it be quiet seeing the Lord hath givin it a charge against Ashkelon and against the Sea shore There hath he appointed it So that the Sword is his Servant he hisseth for the Flie and the Bee of Assyria and Egypt he is Jehovah of Hosts he stirreth up the Spirits and strengthneth the hands of those that do his Work. Again When he giveth quiet then he saith Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation nor learn war any more Isa 2.4 And when he will discomfit power he hath various ways to bring it to pass He sets the Philistins against one another before Jonathan 1 Sam. 14.20 The Egyptians against the Egyptians Isa 19.2 Jehosaphats Enemies against each other 2 Chron. 20.27 Judas slayeth himself so doth Ahitophel Abimeleck Saul c. rather than want an Executioner when God is displeased Thirdly As he hath the Hands so he hath the Hearts of all in his Hands Prov. 21.1 The Kings Heart is in the Hand of the Lord as the Rivers of Water he turneth it whithersoever he will. Isa 10.5 6 7 8 c. Thus was Esaus heart turned to Jacob Gen. 27 41. compared with Chap. 33. 4. Saul among the Prophets when he came to destroy David 1 Sam. 19.20 21 22 23 24. so Prov. 16.7 When a mans ways please God he maketh his Enemies at Peace with him Fourthly And as he hath all Persons at his Disposal so likewise hath he all Things at his Ordering Job 5.19 20 21 22 23. He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee verse 20. In Famine he shall redeem thee from Death and in War from the Power of the Sward verse 21. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the Tongue neither shall thou be afraid of Destruction when it cometh Verse 22. At Destruction and Famine thou shalt laugh neither shalt thou be afraid of the Beasts of the Earth Verse 23. For thou shalt be in League with the Stones of the Field and the Beasts of the Field shall be at Peace with thee c. See more Psal 91. Thus have we demonstrated the truth of the first Proposition When he causeth Peace none can cause Trouble because all trouble is ordered by the all wise disposal of a Holy God and all the Instruments of it are under his Government both as to Persons or Things The Malice of Satan and men given up to him the Craft and Cruelty the Policy and Power of VVicked Men is over-ruled by the Lord their Hearts are turned as he pleaseth and all things are at his Command and under his Power So that we may Conclude this first Position and infer from the Premises if When God causeth Quiet none can cause Trouble Then. First It 's our great concern for our Selves and the Nation to make Peace with God in the first place above all things Iob. 22.21 Acquaint thy self now with him and be at Peace so shall good come unto thee and this can only be done by Faith in Jesus Christ he that believeth shall be saved 'T is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.2 3. For he will come in Flaming Fire taking vengeance on all that know not God and that obey not the Gospel 2 Thes 1.8 And as Faith in Christ for Justification gives peace with God so the Grace of God in sanctifying of us enjoyeth the blessing of Quiet and Peace from God And this Quiet of God we may be induced to seek above any thing else by a view of its Value and Excellent Properties 't is Free Noble Holy and Righteous we need not be ashamed of it it hath no dishonourable Terms 't is full and firm we may safely lean upon it though on nothing else Jer. 17.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is Verse 8. For he shall be as a Tree planted by the River of Waters whose Leaf shall be green and he shall not bease from yielding Fruit c. But be sure try our Peace first that it be indeed of God for Jer. 17.9 The Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And we are too prone to flatter and deceive our selves through too much self-love But God will not be mocked therefore let us be faithful in searching our ways as we love our Souls and their safety and then we shall find to our Comfort that when he causeth Quietness none can cause Trouble The second Question in the Text is this When he hideth his Face who can behold him From whence we take our second General Observation That when God hideth his Face none can behold him Wherein we have First The Subject concerning God's hiding his Face Secondly The Predicate that then none can behold him First The Subject concerning God's hiding his Face about which we have these three Enquiries First Into those special Sins and Provocations against God which do engage him to hide his Face from a People that where-ever they are found God doth or will hide his Face from such a People Secondly The manner of God's hiding his Face from a People And Thirdly The Nature of it First Then there are these Provocations among many others which when found among any People do provoke the Holy God to hide his Face from a People which being too visible among us must be reformed or we shall be destroyed The one is this When a People leave God and turn to Idolatry let such have Peace from God never so firm this Sin will provoke God to remove it So Joshuah told Israel Joshua 24.19 20. He is a Holy God he is a Jealous God if ye forsake the Lord and serve strange gods then he will turn and do you hurt and consume you after that he hath done you good And the whole Book of Judges is but an Historical Relation of God's constant punishing of an Idolatrous People for their Idolatry as you may see there at large Judg. 2.12 13 14 15 16. c. The Children of Israel forsook the Lord and served other Gods Baalim and Ashtaroth c. and provoked the Lord to Anger and he delivered them into the Hands of the Spoilers that spoiled them and sold them into the hands of their Enemies round about So that they could not any longer stand before their Enemies Whithersoever they went the Hand of the Lord was against them for Evil. Judges 5.8 They chose New Gods then was War in the Gates And indeed this God will never bear withal for he hath said I am Jehovah that is my Name and my Glory will I not give to another nor my Praise to Graven Images Isa 42.8 48.11 Secondly Open Profaneness is a Provocation that will remove God's
whereby godliness hath the Promise of this Life as well as that to come and Sinners a Punishment here that they may know there is a Judgment Now this disposal of trouble God hath assumed to himself Isa 45.7 I Form Light I Create Darkness I make Peace I Create Evil viz. of trouble I the Lord do all these things Job 5.6 Although Affliction cometh not forth of the dust neither doth Trouble spring out of the ground c. Amos 3.6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it So that God ordereth trouble by his own hand and therefore where he giveth Quiet none can cause Trouble because none hath the disposal of it but himself Again Secondly As he hath all trouble it self in his own hands so he hath all the Instruments of Trouble at his own ordering nothing can move without him without his Power and Permission All Instruments of Trouble may be reduced to these Heads either 1st Persons or 2ly Things 1st Persons and these are either 1st Evil Angels 2ly Evil Men. First Evil Angels Satan is called ho Ecthros the Enemy Apollion and Abaddon the Destroyer who goeth about as a Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Now the Malice and Motion of Satan to hurt us is under the Special Restraint of God hence it is said in Job Satan saith Thou hast set an Hedge about him Job 1.10 And in seducing Ahab to go to Ramoth Gilead the Evil Spirit doth first get leave to seduce him 1 Kings 22.22 23. The Devils could not enter into the herd of Swine until that Christ gave them leave so to do Mat. 8.31 32. Christ saith unto Peter Simon Satan hath desired to have thee that he might winnow thee as Wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luk. 22.31 And that God ordereth these things doth further appear if we consider what God permits Satan to Assault us for if we are Proud to Humble us if Secure to Awaken us to Prayer and Watchings he is Conquered by Christ and reserved in Chains to the Judgment of the Great Day Jude 6. Now if God speak Peace Satan cannot cause trouble because much of the trouble he is permitted to cause is upon God's Controversie with us for God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able but will with the Temptation also make way to escape 1 Cor. 10.13 God knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations c. 2 Pet. 2.9 And as Satan himself cannot hurt us without permission So 2ly The worst of wicked men those who give themselves to the Devil that they may do mischief viz. Wizards and Witches cannot harm us as we see in the instance of Balaam Num. 23.23 There is no inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel Balaam loved the Wages of Unrighteousness and would have cursed Israel but God made him say I have not beheld Iniquity in Jacob nor seen Perverseness in Israel the Lord his God is with him and the shout of a King is among them Num. 23.21 This God bids them remember what Balack King of Mohab consulted and Balam answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that they might know the righteousness of God Mica 6.5 Again as men are Instruments of Trouble they are so either 1st By their Heads and Counsels or 2ly By their Hands and Power or 3ly By their Hearts Inclinations and Affections Now all these are ordered and disposed by the Lord and cannot move against him First The Heads and Counsels of Men it is certain that much of the safety of a Nation depends upon the Consultation for its good and much of its Trouble depends upon the Conspiracies of Men for its hurt Now There is no Wisdom nor Counsel nor Device against the Lord Prov. 21.30 He bringeth the Devises of the Heathen to nought the Counsel of the Lord standeth for ever the thoughts of his heart to all generations Psal 33.10 11. His Counsel shall stand and he will do all his pleasure Isa 46.10 He over-ruleth all the Counsels that are in the World and hath brought to nothing the devices of the Crafty Job 5.12 When Absalom rebelled against David and Achitopel was with him who was esteemed an Oracle of God for Counsel David prayeth to God to turn his Counsel back to defeat it which he did accordingly answer him in by the Counterpoise of Hushi 2 Sam. 15.31 Chap. 17.14 So of the Enemies of the Jews Neh. 4.15 Of the Wicked Job 5.13 Chap. 10.3 The Heathen Psal 33.10 Of Syria Aephraim Isa 7 5 7. Chap. 8.10 Of Egypt Isa 19.3 11. Now God hath many ways to bring the Counsels of men to nought as he did Hamans against Mordecai Esther 6. Chap. 7.9 10 ult The King of Syria against the Prophet Elisha 2 Kings 6.12 13 to 20. The Jews against Paul Acts 23.12 16. Jacobs Sons against Joseph Gen. 37.20 Pharaobs against Israel when he said let us deal wisely Exod. 1.10 and that was to destroy them but he was destroyed thereby So Haman the Gallows built for Mordecai he first hanselled Ester 7.9 10 ult The Pit they dig for others takes their own feet and they fall therein So God defeated the Philistines Plot against Sampson Saul defeated in his designs again David sometimes by strife as Jehosaphats Enemies 2 Chron. 20. Cross Interests arise Great Men who are as wheels in the Work die and all their Thoughts and Designs perish with them Secondly As their Heads so their Hands and Power is ordered by the Lord. So that when he giveth Quiet there 's no Hand can cause Trouble For the Sword is at the disposal of the Lord Job 5.12 He disappointeth the devices of the Crafty so that their hands cannot find their Enterprise Isa 54.17 ult No weapon that is formen against Sion shall prosper and every tongue that riseth up in Judgment against her God will condemn Psal 46.9 10. He maketh Wars to cease unto the ends of the Earth he breaketh the Bow and cutteth the Spear in sunder and burns the Chariots with Fire and saith Be still and know that I am God For 't is he that bendeth the Bow the Sword is his Weapon and goeth at his bidding Job 19.29 ult Be afraid of the Sword for wrath bringeth the punishment of the Sword that ye may know there is a Judgment Judg. 5.8 They chose new Gods then was War in the Gates Dout. 32.41 If I whet my Glittering Sword and my hand take hold on Judgment Isai 34.5 6. The Sword of the Lord is bathed in Heaven and it shall come down upon Idumea and the People of his curse to Judgement Isa 66.16 By Fire and Sword will the Lord plead with all Flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many Jer. 12.12 The Spoilers are come upon all high places through the Wilderness for the Sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the Land even to the other end of the Land no
Spouse found it Now this Gradual hiding of Gods Face is oft Imperceptable to most Gray Hairs saith God are here and there on Ephraim Hos 7.9 and yet he considereth it not So that God oft is insensibly gone from us hereby ere we are aware But the dismal Effects of of his departure evidence his being gone As 1st He leaveth his Care over them his Fence about them and is as a Waifairing man as one that tarryeth but for a night Isa 5. Jer. 14 8. 2ly Hath no regard to their Prayers Jer. 14 12. Chap. 15.1 3ly Refuseth to give them Counsel as Saul found when he went to the VVitch at Endor 1 Sam. 28.6 15. Psal 74.9 4ly Gives them up to their own Counsels Psalm 81.12 5ly Will ease himself of them and cast them out of his Sight Isa 1.24 Jer. 15.1 2 3 4. 6ly Removes their Enjoyments Isa 3.1 2 3 4 5. Ezek. 19.11 14. and the like Thus far for the manner of God's hiding his Face from a People The Third thing is the Nature of it And this will be best declared under the Consideration of the Predicate of this second Proposition which is that None can behold him And herein is Two Parts First Something Implyed Secondly Something Expressed That which is Implyed in the second Question Who can behold him Is this That all others may be be held when they hide their Faces But as is Expressed He only cannot be beheld when he hideth His. And in Order to the Demonstration of both these Propositions Implyed and Expressed we must first Explain First How God hideth his Face Secondly And wherein none can behold him And then prove First That in those respects men may be beheld but that God cannot be so beheld and shall conclude with a brief Application of the whole First then to enquire wherein or in what Respects God may be said to hide his Face And in those respects he cannot be beheld And these are Three First When God with holdeth the light of his Countenance the Evidence of his Favour then none can see his face or enjoy his favour and in that respect cannot behold him Secondly When God keepeth his Anger he may be said To hide his Face and then none can Attone him and in that respect cannot behold him Thirdly When God Executeth Judgments in Anger he may then likewise be said To hide his Face and then none can bear his Indignation and so in this respect also none can behold him Nextly We are to prove First that which is implyed in the Question which is That when Men hide their Faces they may be beheld in all the aforesald respects And this is needful to consider that we may not for fear of Man's Anger fall under the Wrath of God when there is no Proportion between them First then in the first Respect the favour of Man may be obtain'd when it is withdrawn because the natural Temper and Inclinations of all men may be known and accommodated so as effectually to Influence their Love and Delight The most morose and sowr Tempers have been and may be sweetned though oft difficult to do it without Sin. Secondly The most implacable may be Attoned whom we may or need Attone The Devils we neither may nor need Esau was Attoned to Jacob tho' he had born him deadly Hatred David towards Nabal's House by Abigal Naaman the Syrian by his Servants Saul towards David A Gift often doth it Prov. 17.8.18.16 Chap. 21.14 Thirdly The Execution of the uttermost humane Anger is tollerable the Martyrs bore it Triumphantly because the Heads Hearts and Hands of Men and Devils are in the Hands of that God. Who will not suffer us to be Tempted above what we are able Who steyeth his Rough Wind in the day of his East-wind Isai 27.8 1 Cor. 10.13 Secondly Because we are both mortal the one puts a Period to their Oppressing us Isai 51.12 And the other to our Suffering Job 3.17 Now the Inferences and Use from what is Implyed are these Two The first Use is this If men may be beheld in every Respect and that without the need of sinning to do is then let us not sin to obtain the Favour or to avoid the Displeasure of Men. And Secondly Then be not too much Transported at their Favour nor Dejected at their Displeasure But the matter is otherwise with us when we come under God's Displeasure as is Expressed When he hideth his Face none can behold him in any of the three aforesaid Respects As first When God withdraweth the light of his Countenance none can obtain it because it is the free Gift of God which he disposeth of arbitrarily and that which is so cannot be obtained by humane Power Rom. 9.15 16. For he saith to Moses I will have Mercy on whom I will have Mercy c. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth Mercy We are unworthy the least Mercy and hin Favour is the greatest therefore cannot be purchased by us who have no Property in any thing nor are able to render proportionably to the least Blessing Secondly Because all those conditional Promises of the free favour of God such as these to the Pure who shall see God the Vpright shall behold his Face c. They all he at an equal Distance from us as the favour of God its self doth How abominable and filthy is Man and also perverse and deceitful Without Divine Help we can do nothing John 15.5 Secondly When God keeps his Anger in his Bosom then none can attone him by Creature Power no other than the Eternal Son of God can do this no Gift can do it Psal 49 6 7 8 9. They that tract in their Wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their Riches none of them can by any means redeem his Brother nor give to God a Ransom for him for the redemption of his Soul is precious and it ceaseth for ever c. 1 Pet. 1.18 Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish Job 9.33 Neither is there any days-man betwixt us that might lay his hand upon us both 1 Sam. 2.25 If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him but if a man sin against the Lord who shall intreat for him So that we may conclude that There is but one Mediator between God and man the Man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 who alone is qualified for it being both God and Man. Thirdly God's hiding his Face is sometimes taken for the execution of his Anger when he passeth Sentance on the Wicked he saith depart from me Now not to behold him in this respect is that none is able to stand before his Indignation it is intollerable Psal 76.7 Thou even thou art to be feared and who may stand in thy sight when thou art once angry Psal 90.11 Who knoweth the power